Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge)

Origin:  Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay

Use:  Grazing, hay

Plant Description

  • General:  12-20" tall
  • Life Span:  Perennial
  • Growth Form:  Low growing grasses that spreads by seed and rhizomes

Management

  • Seeding Rate:  15-20 lbs/A
  • Seedling Vigor:  Poor
  • Planting Date:  March-April
  • Planting Depth:  0.25"-0.50"
  • Grazing Tolerance:  Excellent
  • Desirable pH:  >5.5 but is highly tolerant of acidic soils
  • Drainage Requirements:  Well drained to poorly drained soil
  • Soil Texture:  Adapted to wide range of soil types
  • Drought Tolerance:  Excellent
  • Season of Use:  March-November

General:

  • Highly tolerant of acidic soils and low soil potassium and phosphorous levels
  • Earlier spring greenup than bermudagrass
  • Slightly lower quality and lower yeilding than bermudagrass
  • Much more tolerant to poor drainage than bermudagrass
  • Contains nitrogen fixing organism in roots that can fix small amount of nitrogen (<15 lbs/A) per year


ID Features:

  • J shaped rhizome and forked seedhead allow easy identification



Special Notes:

  • Mole crickets, ergot seedhead infection, and dollar spot fungus can present occasional problems